1000 Touches

Last updated on June 13, 2012

First of all, from DAY 1, every player should bring a ball to practice EVERY time. When a player doesn’t have a ball and touches the ball only once or twice in an entire training session, what’s the point of practice?

At each training session, some of these foot-skill exercises below should be repeated to get the kids more comfortable with the ball. Pick about 4-5 of these each practice and have the players repeat about 20-30 times before moving on to the next one. Some of these are very difficult, so take into account their age and skill level, but be repetitive and make them work more quickly as they improve. Focus on getting the technique correct. Later on, have some small-sided games and try to get the players to attempt these moves.

FAST FOOTWORK

Inside Roll — Roll the ball across your body from outside to inside with the inside and sole of the foot and stop the ball with the inside of the other foot.

Outside Roll — Roll the ball across your body from inside to outside with the outside and sole of the foot and stop the ball with the inside of the same foot.

Side to Side Push-Pull — Tap ball back and forth with inside of feet, push ball forward with one foot and pull it back the sole of the opposite foot.

Side to Side Step-On — Roll ball to outside with the sole by stepping lightly on the ball, then tap ball back to the inside with the inside of the foot.

Side to Side Front Roll –Tap ball back and forth with inside of feet, push ball slightly forward then pull the ball across your body with the front part of the sole.

Pull Instep Push — Push ball forward and pull it back with the sole, then tap ball forward with the instep of the same foot.

Pull a Vee — Push the ball forward and pull it back the sole of the foot while turning and then take the ball with the inside of the same foot.

Pull & Take with Outside of Foot — Push the ball forward and pull the ball back with the sole then push the ball diagonally forward with the outside of the foot.

Pull & Roll Behind — Push the ball forward and pull the ball back with the sole of the foot then pass the ball behind the standing leg with the inside of the foot. Control the ball with the sole of the other foot.

Pull turn –Push ball forward with one foot and pull it back with the other while turning toward ball and take the ball in the opposite direction with the inside of the first foot.

Inside of foot turn — Push ball forward, move past ball and turn toward ball and take it with the inside of the foot in the opposite direction.

Outside of foot turn — Push ball forward, move past ball and turn toward ball while taking it with the outside of the foot in the opposite direction.

Stepover Turn — Push ball forward, step over ball with one foot, turn toward ball and take it in the opposite direction.

1

2

3

4

The ball is in the middle of this imaginary square.
The numbers are for feet positions, so think of the square (I know
it looks like a rectangle) as having sides about shoulder width apart.
The feet are in positions 3 (lf) and 4(rf). Ball is in middle area.
RF steps over the ball to position 1. Player pivots on right foot
toward position 2. Left foot lands on position 2. Player is now standing
on 1 (rf) and 2(lf), facing 3 and 4. After they have this part figured
out, have them carry the ball away with the left foot instead on stopping
on position 2.

Full Sole Roll — Roll the sole of one foot forward over the ball and to the outside so the ball stops against your heel. Turn and take the ball with the sole of the other foot with a Step-On.

Scissors — Starting with the ball to one side, step over or in front of ball so that the ball ends up on the other side of you. Take the ball in the opposite direction with the outside of the other foot and then stop ball with the sole of the first foot.

360 — Push ball forward, stop it with the sole of one foot while stepping past it, turn and drag ball back with sole of other foot, continue turning all the way around and take the ball with the inside of the first foot.

Kick Over ball — Kick over ball with inside of foot then pull it back with the sole of the same foot.

MOVES TO BEAT AN OPPONENT

Hip Swivel — Fake with inside of one foot by swivelling hips toward ball, then reverse direction and take the ball with the inside of the other foot.

Mathews — Fake with inside of foot nudging ball by dipping shoulder, then take ball in the opposite direction with the outside of same foot. (explode)

Cap — Cut ball with inside of foot slightly backward and take ball ahead with the inside of the opposite foot.

Stepover — With ball moving, stepover ball so ball is outside of stepover foot, turn and take the ball with the other foot.

Scissors over ball — Step behind ball as if preparing to take it with the outside of one foot, then step over the ball and take it with the outside of the other foot.

Rivolino — Same as stepover, but take the ball with outside of stepover foot.

Vee — Fake pass with instep (across body), pull ball back with sole and take in opposite direction with the inside of the same foot.